EP0346328B1 - Hydrozyklone - Google Patents

Hydrozyklone Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0346328B1
EP0346328B1 EP87907917A EP87907917A EP0346328B1 EP 0346328 B1 EP0346328 B1 EP 0346328B1 EP 87907917 A EP87907917 A EP 87907917A EP 87907917 A EP87907917 A EP 87907917A EP 0346328 B1 EP0346328 B1 EP 0346328B1
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Prior art keywords
hydrocyclone
axis
inlet
fluid
flow
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EP87907917A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0346328A1 (de
EP0346328A4 (de
Inventor
Gavan James Joseph Prendergast
David Andrew Webb
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Merpro Montassa Ltd
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Merpro Montassa Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/08—Vortex chamber constructions
    • B04C5/081—Shapes or dimensions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/14—Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
    • B04C5/181—Bulkheads or central bodies in the discharge opening

Definitions

  • This invention relates to cyclone separator devices (hereinafter called “hydrocyclones”) capable of separating at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, predominantly fluid mixtures of two or more components or phases of differing densities.
  • This invention may find particular application in separation of fluid mixtures where at least one of the fluid components to be separated is sensitive to regions of high fluid shear, i.e. the interfacial properties being such that fluid mixtures may become further emulsified rather than separated into fluid velocity fields.
  • the fluid mixtures may be, or may contain, oil and water.
  • the fluid mixtures may also contain some solids and/or dissolved or free gas.
  • This invention also relates to methods of separating at least partially, if not substantially, fluid mixtures of two or more components as previously described.
  • Cyclone separators (normally called “cyclones"), but more importantly in relation to this invention, hydrocyclones, have been in use for some time. Their use and application to separating solids from gas and solids from liquids in particular is well documented. See for example “The Hydrocyclone” by D. Bradley (Pergamon Press, 1965) and “Hydrocyclones” by Svarvosky (Holt, 1984). The most typical form of cyclones used for these purposes is of a straight conical shape. However, a number of specialised designs exist to treat particular mixtures or derive special benefits. See for example U.S. Patents Nos. 4,389,307, 2,982,409 and 2,849,930 as examples of hydrocyclones applied to pulp and paper separation.
  • hydrocyclones were of a type and design developed substantially by reference to the knowledge and art of solid/liquid separation technology. These hydrocyclones performed comparatively poorly when applied to liquid/liquid separation.
  • hydrocyclone designs of one class have been developed for the problem of separating a small amount of less dense component/s from fluid mixtures and of another class for separating a small amount of a more dense component/s from fluid mixtures. Said small amounts of less dense and more dense component/s typically exist in particle form, but most typically in droplet form, in the fluid mixtures.
  • Hydrocyclones of the first type designed for the separation of a small amount of less dense component as described in the prior art are distinguishable from solid/liquid hydrocyclones by the inclusion of features such as flow smoothing inlet areas, or swirl chambers, and are relatively long.
  • Patent literature which describes the prior art includes the following: AU-47106/79 describes a hydrocyclone where the body of the hydrocyclone is made up of two cylindrical sections with a flow smoothing taper included between the sections. The design as claimed is described by mathematical relationships between parameters such as inlet area, lengths and diameters of the inlet, outlets and cylindrical sections. AU-47105/79 is similar to the above but includes a third cylindrical portion and a second flow smoothing taper between the second and third cylindrical portions. AU-84713/82 describes a hydrocyclone with a relatively small light phase outlet of diameter d o .
  • AU-89106/82 and PCT/AU84/00097 describe designs with variable overflow outlets.
  • PCT/AU83/00028 describes a mechanical device for de-blocking the small light phase outlet hole, and further describes a fourth portion of the hydrocyclone used to control the flow of fluid through the hydrocyclone.
  • PCT/AU84/00195 describes an arrangement where the light phase is removed from the downstream outlet end.
  • PCT/AU85/00010 describes a hydrocyclone which includes an involute inlet.
  • Other patent applications describing various other features include PCT/AU84/00293, PCT/AU86/00111 and PCT/AU85/00288.
  • Hydrocyclones designed in accordance with the present invention are believed to exhibit improvements when considered in relation to the prior art. Problems arising with hydrocyclones designed in accordance with the prior art include:
  • hydrocyclone according to the present invention can exhibit one or more of the following advantages relative to the prior art:
  • a hydrocyclone being capable of separating at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, a feed mixture, more typically a mixture with two or more fluid components, with at least one predominant liquid component.
  • said mixture may contain smaller amounts of gas and some solids.
  • such mixtures might include, but not be limited to, oil and water, shear-sensitive flocks of solids and liquids, particularly where concentrations are low.
  • a hydrocyclone according to the present invention comprises at least a first end and, remote from said first end, a second end, the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone in at least one location towards the second end being less than the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone at said first end.
  • Such hydrocyclones further include at least one inlet means in the region of the said first end for introducing feed mixture and at least two outlet means with at least one outlet means in the region of the said second end.
  • An "axis” and “cross-section” may be defined by considering a straight or curved line imagined to be drawn within the hydrocyclone, and planes arbitrarily constructed so as to intersect that point and to cut off various sections of the hydrocyclone. For each point there will be a section of minimum area. The line which at each point is normal to that section and passes through its centre (centroid if the section by asymmetrical) may be called the hydrocyclone axis , and said section the cross-section at that point.
  • the majority by mass of the fluid mixture to undergo separation is admitted to the hydrocyclone in the region of the said first end and is admitted in such a way that said fluid mixture attains substantially rotational velocity about the hydrocyclone axis and may also attain an axial velocity component.
  • the region of the said first end is so shaped as to promote substantial conversion of fluid linear momentum into angular momentum about the hydrocyclone axis.
  • the greater portion of fluid entering the hydrocyclone in the region of said first end will flow towards second end and will attain at least an axial velocity component parallel to the hydrocyclone axis.
  • This fluid will typically flow towards said second end with an increasing axial velocity, this being an effect of a decreasing cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone.
  • Viscosity effects may offer a general resistance to velocity within the hydrocyclone although the tendency for angular momentum to be conserved may, in spite of viscosity, increase the general rotation as the fluid flows towards said second end.
  • the said second end of the hydrocyclone extends to a location, or locations, at which dynamic or kinematic behaviour of the fluid, most importantly separation of components of the fluid, at that location, or locations, is no longer significant.
  • a minor portion of fluid entering the hydrocyclone in the region of said first end will be impelled by centripetal forces towards the hydrocyclone axis, there to form a lengthwise extending "core" with a typical flow towards said first end rather than towards said second end.
  • a core comprises fluid having a relatively high proportion of less dense component/s.
  • Said outlet means in the region of said first end may have its axis/their axes located at or close to the hydrocyclone axis and may take the form of one or more orifices of circular or other cross-sectional shape and may reach its/their diameter/s or width/s instantaneously or by any form of abrupt or smooth transition and may widen thereafter by taper or step or take other geometry.
  • the axis or axes of said outlet means may be coincident with, substantially coincident with, or parallel to, or inclined to the hydrocyclone axis.
  • a hydrocyclone for separating at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, predominantly fluid mixtures having at least one predominant liquid component
  • said hydrocyclone comprising at least a first end and, remote from said first end, a second end, the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone in at least one location towards said second end being less than the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone at said first end, said hydrocyclone further including at least one inlet means in the region of the said first end for introducing feed mixture/s and at least two outlet means, with at least one outlet means in the region of said second end, said hydrocyclone further including in the region of said second end fixed or movable flow-modifying means located at or near the hydrocyclone axis, said means being so constructed as to affect, if not to substantially impede and stabilize, the flow towards the said second end of fluid containing a relatively large proportion of less dense component but to allow substantial annular flow, past said flow-modifying means towards said second end, of fluid containing a relatively large
  • the said flow-modifying means is most preferably solid, but can be semi-permeable or permeable. It may take the form of a baffle, rod or a plate-shaped device.
  • the said flow-modifying means may be supported in the hydrocyclone by a variety of means, for example a rod aligned along the hydrocyclone axis. Most preferably, said support means is so positioned so that it does not substantially interfere with or impede fluid flows but provides good mechanical support for said flow-modifying means.
  • Said flow-modifying means may be axially-symmetric in cross-section, said cross-section being taken normal to the hydrocyclone axis and said cross-sectional area may vary along hydrocyclone axis. However, said means need not be axially-symmetric and need not be of a special shape.
  • Concave, even convex and irregular shapes have been found to function satisfactorily. It has been found that in certain instances, in particular with irregular shaped flow-modifying means, it is preferable to locate said means off the hydrocyclone axis.
  • the "effective cross-sectional area of said flow-modifying means” can be defined as the cross-sectional area of said flow-modifying means at the location where the previously disclosed effect on the flow of the fluid containing a relatively large proportion of less dense component is produced. This cross-sectional area is measured normal to the hydrocyclone axis.
  • Said flow-modifying means can be further characterised in that the ratio of the minimum effective cross-sectional area A1 of the hydrocyclone towards said first end, measured in a location that does not include said flow-modifying means and in a plane normal to the hydrocyclone axis, to the effective cross-sectional area A2 of said flow-modifying means is greater than 1.5, more preferably greater than 2.
  • said ratio A1:A2 is more than 2, but more preferably greater than 5.
  • the said area ratio A1:A2 was varied from 4 to greater than 50. Desirable results of lighter phase stabilization and increased pressure at the outlet means for less dense component/s were achieved. However, if the said area ratio becomes too small, for example less than 1.5, the increased pressure loss to the outlet means for more dense component/s is believed to be excessive for commercial applications.
  • Said flow-modifying means may be further characterised in that said effective cross-sectional area of said means is positioned at least d2/15 units towards said first end from said second end when measured along the hydrocyclone axis, more preferably at least d2/6 units (d2 being the nominal hydrocyclone diameter and being defined by the relation V being the effective internal volume of the hydrocyclone). More preferably this distance is at least d2 units.
  • Optimum area ratio and said positioning of flow-modifying means for a particular hydrocyclone design is dependent upon such factors as velocity ratio and said second end outlet design.
  • the geometry and design of the hydrocyclone wall in the region of said flow-modifying means is believed to have an important effect on the design and operation of the device.
  • the hydrocyclone wall can assume many forms but desirably is designed so as to prevent, or at least limit, flow instability and disturbance.
  • the design should be such that flow separation of that part of the fluid having a relatively high concentration of less dense component/s at or near the hydrocyclone axis is minimized upstream of said flow-modifying means.
  • the effective cross-sectional area, A3, of the hydrocyclone at locations in the direction towards said second end of the hydrocyclone from the position of said flow-modifying means be, in at least one location, equal to, but more preferably less than, the said effective cross-sectional area A1 of hydrocyclone at locations in the direction towards said first end from the position of said flow-modifying means.
  • the area ratio A1:A3 is less than 1.5.
  • the area reductions according to the present invention are designed, configured and operated primarily in a manner to stabilise flow around said flow-modifying means and/or outlet and/or to increase the rotational velocity of the fluid towards said first end by the action of fluid viscosity and are not intended to act as external flow proportioning means in a manner achieved, for example, by the use of valves.
  • U.S. Patents Nos. 4,464,264 and 4,544,486 teach such flow proportioning means which behave as valves.
  • a hydrocyclone for separating at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, less dense component/s from predominantly fluid mixtures having at least one predominant liquid component
  • said hydrocyclone comprising at least a first end and, remote from said first end, a second end, the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone in at least one location towards said second end being less than the cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone at said first end, and further including at least one inlet means in the region of said first end for introducing said fluid mixture/s and at least two outlet means with at least one outlet means in the region of said second end, and wherein the following criteria (1) to (4) apply:
  • V represents the effective internal volume of the hydrocyclone not including inlet and outlet ducts; and where, if the number of inlets in the region of the first end is n, n being an integer with a value equal to or greater than 1, let the p th inlet discharge a fluid mixture of
  • hydrocyclone wall (and what is to be used in calculating the volume) for the purposes of this specification, is the wall or surface close to or adjacent to tracing the minimum area surface close to or adjacent to the geometrical wall which would define a hydrocyclone with substantially identical performance and flow field characteristics as the actual geometric design.
  • V r is greater than 5 and less than 20
  • the hydrocyclone is at least 15 d2 units long from first end to second end
  • the length over which the average angle ⁇ is more than 15' and less than 2° is at least 10 d2 units
  • d o /d2 ⁇ 0.1 is at least 10 d2 units
  • a hydrocyclone according to the present invention may be further characterised in that said outlet of minimum effective cross-sectional diameter d o is included for discharge of relatively high concentration of less dense component/s and is provided in the region of said first end.
  • a hydrocyclone as previously described further characterized in that the effective diameter d o is located at some distance from said first end towards said second end and is positioned at or close to the hydrocyclone axis. Most preferably the distance is at least 2d2 units from said first end, more preferably more than 4d2 units.
  • a hydrocyclone according to the present invention can be further characterised in that said outlet of minimum effective cross-sectional diameter d o is located in the region of said second end in the region of (but more preferably on) the hydrocyclone axis.
  • the effective cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone in a direction towards said second end of hydrocyclone from the position of said outlet of minimum effective cross-sectional diameter d o is, in at least one location, an effective cross-sectional area equal to, but more preferably less than, the minimum effective cross-sectional area of the hydrocyclone in the direction towards said first end from the position of said outlet, and in a location that does not include said outlet means or, if present, said flow-modifying means, and in a plane normal to the hydrocyclone axis.
  • the hydrocyclone in the region of said first end may be provided with more than one type of inlet means, a first class of inlet means being fed with fluid from a lower pressure source than is the case with the other class or classes of inlet means.
  • fluid rotating about the hydrocyclone axis may have significant angular momentum sourced from the inlet means fed with fluid from the higher pressure source/s.
  • there is included in the region of the second end means to convert at least some of the rotational motion of the fluid about the hydrocyclone axis to a motion which is substantially linear with respect to the hydrocyclone axis (for example, a tangential outlet) while imposing minimal viscous drag forces on the fluid while said fluid has a substantially rotational velocity. It appears that such means tend to maintain the desired rotation in the region of said second end, thereby increasing the hydraulic and separation efficiency of the hydrocyclone.
  • the hydrocyclone axis be straight, or curved smoothly in an arc of large radius or a number of linked arcs of large radii, or be composed of straight segments with small angle of transition therebetween. It is preferable that the cross-section at each point between said first end and said second end be substantially axially symmetric, i.e. substantially circular. It may be preferable for some applications that the inside surface of the hydrocyclone between said first end and said second end be smooth or otherwise such that boundary layer thickness adjacent the wall be kept minimal.
  • discontinuities and/or steps in the hydrocyclone wall are small, more preferably there are no discontinuities and no steps or abrupt section changes.
  • the hydrocyclone may be generally of axially symmetric form. Further, the axis of the said hydrocyclone need not be a single straight line.
  • a hydrocyclone including substantially a series of flow-smoothing conical or otherwise tapered portions joining generally cylindrical portions.
  • d2 may be selected for engineering and practical convenience but usually will be greater than 6mm and less than 100mm.
  • the volume of free gas at the inlet means to be admitted to the hydrocyclone is preferably less than 20%.
  • the viscosity of the predominant fluid component in fluid mixture is preferably less than 200 centipoise at inlet conditions.
  • variable geometry i.e. that is a geometry that may change during operation of the hydrocyclone.
  • hydrocyclone geometries described here may be used as part of a system having two or more hydrocyclones in a multi-stage system or operated in parallel and may have valves or other devices to control or measure pressure or flow of fluids at the inlets and/or outlets.
  • V r is dependent on the type of performance required from the hydrocyclone for the fluid concerned.
  • the preferred value of length of said section is also dependent on the performance desired from the hydrocyclone for the fluid mixture concerned.
  • a greater value of said length can lead to greater residence time of the fluid in the hydrocyclone, giving more time for particles of the less dense component/s contained in the more dense component/s to migrate towards the hydrocyclone axis.
  • a greater value of this length can also give rise to greater viscous losses because of the effect of wall friction which tends to reduce the rotational velocity of the fluid in the hydrocyclone thus reducing the centripetal body forces acting to force the particles of the less dense component/s towards the hydrocyclone axis. Viscous losses due to wall friction may be more significant for fluids having a greater viscosity.
  • the invention relates to a hydrocyclone as hereinbefore described but further characterised in that it is not constructed of two or three generally cylindrical portions and/or does not include substantially identical substantially equally circumferentially spaced tangentially directed feeds.
  • the invention relates to a hydrocyclone with a single inlet means as previously described but further characterised in that if the generator of the primary portion of said hydrocyclone is a continuously curved line (or is not straight, or wherein the inlet gives it an inwards spiralling feed channel), then the swirl number, as defined by the relation where d i ' is the diameter of the hydrocyclone at the location/s of the inlet means, A i ' is the area of the inlet means where flow enters the hydrocyclone measured in the plane including the hydrocyclone axis and the mean point of flow entry, and d2' is the diameter of said hydrocyclone measured at point z2' where the condition first applies that where z' is the distance along the hydrocyclone axis downstream of the inlet means and d' is the diameter of the hydrocyclone at that point, is greater than 12.
  • the invention relates to a hydrocyclone with a plurality of inlet means as previously described but further characterised in that if said plurality of inlet means are not axially staggered and/or do not include feed channels which are inwardly spiral, and/or if part of the generator of the primary portion is curved then the swirl number as defined by the relation must be greater than 12.
  • hydrocyclones according to this invention there are a number of applications for which hydrocyclones according to this invention may be used. It is to be understood that a particular hydrocyclone geometry is not necessarily suitable or optimal for all applications.
  • hydrocyclones as previously disclosed for separation said predominantly fluid feed mixtures having at least one predominant liquid component and further including at least one component to be separated at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, said latter component being prone to further emulsification in regions of high fluid shear.
  • said fluid feed mixtures consist substantially of oil and water.
  • Criteria examined when selecting the geometry for a hydrocyclone for application to fluid mixtures may include:
  • This invention extends to a method of separating at least partially, if not to a substantial extent, predominantly fluid mixtures of two or more components of differing densities, comprising feeding the fluid mixture/s into a hydrocyclone as herein described via the inlet means of said hydrocyclone the fluid mixture/s being at a higher pressure than at the outlet means of said hydrocyclone.
  • Flow-modifying means 16 has a minimum effective cross-sectional area A2.
  • Fig. 2 denotes the hydrocyclone wall upstream of flow-modifying means 16, and 9 denotes the hydrocyclone wall downstream of flow-modifying means 16.
  • A2 is the effective cross-sectional area of flow-modifying means 16.
  • 22 depicts an asymmetric example of a flow-modifying means according to the present invention and 20 denotes the hydrocyclone axis
  • Fig. 3 denotes the region near the first end of a hydrocyclone according to the present invention
  • 24 denotes the region near the second end of said hydrocyclone
  • 26 denotes inlet means for admission of feed mixture to the hydrocyclone
  • 28 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of less dense component/s than the feed mixture.
  • 30 denotes the hydrocyclone wall
  • 32 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of more dense component/s than the feed mixture
  • 34 denotes a flow-modifying means according to the present invention
  • 35 denotes support and/or location means for flow-modifying means 34
  • the axis 36 of support means 35 coinciding with the hydrocyclone axis 38.
  • Fig. 4 40 denotes the hydrocyclone wall, 42 denotes the region near the first end of the hydrocyclone, 44 denotes the region near the second end of said hydrocyclone, 46 denotes inlet means for admission of feed mixture to the hydrocyclone (one of the inlet means not being shown), 48 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of less dense component/s than the feed mixture, 50 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of more dense component/s than the feed mixture (one of the outlet means not being shown), 52 denotes a flow-modifying means according to the present invention, 54 denotes the hydrocyclone axis, 56 denotes location and/or support means for flow-modifying means 52, 58 denotes the longitudinal axis of location and/or support means 56.
  • Outlet means 50 are tangential outlets designed to convert at least some of the rotational motion of fluid about the hydrocyclone axis to a motion which is substantially linear. It is believed that a hydrocyclone in accordance with this design is suitable both for separating less dense component/s fluid mixtures and more dense component/s from fluid mixtures.
  • 60 denotes the hydrocyclone wall
  • 62 denotes the region near the first end of the hydrocyclone
  • 64 denotes the region near the second end of said hydrocyclone
  • 66 denotes inlet means for admission of feed mixture to the hydrocyclone (one of the inlet means not being shown)
  • 68 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of less dense component/s than the feed mixture
  • 70 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of more dense component/s than the feed mixture (one of the outlet means not being shown)
  • 72 denotes a flow-modifying means according to the present invention
  • 74 denotes the hydrocyclone axis
  • 76 denotes location and/or support means for flow-modifying means 72
  • 78 denotes the longitudinal axis of location and/or support means 76.
  • Outlet means 70 are tangential outlets designed to convert at least some of the rotational motion of fluid about the hydrocyclone axis to a motion which is substantially linear. It is believed that a hydrocyclone in accordance with this design is suitable for separating less dense component/s from fluid mixtures, being longer than the design depicted in Fig. 4, thereby leading to a greater residence time within the hydrocyclone. This increases the time available for the less dense component/s to migrate towards the hydrocyclone axis.
  • Fig. 6 80 denotes the hydrocyclone wall, 82 denotes the region near the first end of the hydrocyclone, 84 denotes the region near the second end of the hydrocyclone, 86 denotes inlet means for admission of feed mixture to the hydrocyclone (one of the inlet means not being shown), 88 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of less dense component/s than the feed mixture, 90 denotes outlet means for discharge of fluid having an increased proportion of more dense component/s than the feed mixture (one of the outlet means not being shown), 92 denotes a flow-modifying means according to the present invention, 94 denotes the hydrocyclone axis, 96 denotes location and/or support means for flow-modifying means 92, 98 denotes the longitudinal axis of location and/or support means 96.
  • Outlet means 90 are tangential outlets designed to convert at least some of the rotational motion of fluid about the hydrocyclone axis to a motion which is substantially linear. It is believed that a hydrocyclone in accordance with this design is suitable for separating more dense components from fluid mixtures.
  • twin tangential inlet means of rectangular cross-section shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are believed to give rise to a substantially axially-symmetric flow regime in the region of the first end of the respective hydrocyclones and allow the incoming flow of feed mixture to be introduced close to the hydrocyclone wall, thereby maximizing usage of the hydrocyclone geometry in the region of the first end in producing, inducing or tending to rotational velocity in the feed mixture.
  • the hydrocyclone is operated with sufficiently large inlet volumetric flow rate such that a substantial proportion of fluid within the hydrocyclone has a rotational velocity about the hydrocyclone axis and a corresponding centripetal acceleration which is much greater than 10m/s2.
  • the hydrocyclone may be operated with the hydrocyclone axis being at any desired orientation with respect to the local gravitational field without significant impairment of performance.
  • such a hydrocyclone may be operated, while firmly attached to accelerating objects such as a ship or a floating oil production platform in a rough sea without significant impairment of performance.
  • Hydrocyclones according to the present invention are often operated without an air core.
  • the fluid mixture to be treated was oily water, with emulsified oil droplets of average size of 35 ⁇ m and a total oil component of less than 2000 parts per million (on a volume basis)
  • the object was to remove the largest part of the oil component and concentrate this into an outstream of approximately 2% of the inlet flow. It was also desired that the hydrocyclone be energy efficient and compact.
  • a hydrocyclone of the above design will perform satisfactorily in the absence of flow-modifying means as previously described, but at a flow of 50 l/min the use of a flow-modifying means in accordance with the present invention results in an increase in the pressure, at constant flow, of approximately 10 kPa, thereby increasing hydrocyclone turndown ratio.
  • the fluid mixture to be treated was a highly emulsified oil-in-water mixture with oil-in-water concentrations below 2000 ppm (on a volume basis) and an average oil droplet particle size of less than 20 ⁇ m.
  • the aim was to achieve minimum contamination of the outlet water component, with the concentrated oily stream being approximately 2% of the inlet feed.
  • FIG. 5 A design suitable for this particular duty is shown in Fig. 5.
  • the fluid mixture to be treated was a mixture of water of average particle size 40 ⁇ m dispersed in oil.
  • the concentration of the water was less than 10% by volume.
  • the primary objective was to reduce the concentration of water in the oil.
  • a design believed to be suitable for this duty is shown in Fig. 6.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
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  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Eine Methode zum Separieren eines Gemischs aus einer dispergierten Phase eines leichteren Teils in einer kontinuierlichen Phase eines dichteren flüssigen Teils; bestehend aus dem Zuführen der Mischung in einen Hydrozyklon mit gegenüberliegendem ersten und zweiten Ende, zwischen denen sich eine Hydrozyklonachse (20) (wie hier definiert) erstreckt, wobei der Bereich des Querschnitts (wie hier definiert) des Hydrozyklons sich insgesamt vom ersten zum zweiten Ende verringert; und Einlässe (10) neben dem ersten Ende zum Zuführen eines Gemischs in den Hydrozyklon vorhanden sind und erste und zweite Auslässe (12, 14) zum Abführen jeweils vergleichsweise mehr bzw. weniger dichter Teile, die aus dem Gemisch separiert wurden; wobei sich die ersten Auslässe im wesentlichen auf der Hydrozyklonachse befinden, und die zweiten Auslässe sich neben dem zweiten Ende befinden; und gekennzeichnet dadurch, wenn d₂ der nominelle Hydrozyklon-Durchmesser ist, definiert als:
    Figure imgb0020
     wobei V das effektive interne Volumen des Hydrozyklons darstellt, nicht eingeschlossen die Einlaß- und Auslaßkanäle, und wenn die Zahl der Einlässe (10) im Bereich des ersten Endes ein integres n ist mit einem Wert gleich oder größer als 1, wobei ein Flüssigkeitsgemisch mit einer Mengenstromrate m durch den pth-Einlaß in den Hydrozyklon mit einem Moment pro Einheit mal L p (L p ist ein Mengenvektor) geführt wird, <L p ist die Vektorkomponente von Lp parallel zur Ebene senkrecht zur Hydrozyklonachse (20) (wie vorher hier definiert) am pth-Einlaß; und rp ist der Mindestradius von der Hydrozyklonachse zu dem Punkt auf der Richtungslinie der Vektorkomponente <Lp, wobei rp sich parallel zu der Ebene senkrecht zur Hydrozyklonachse am pth-Einlaß befindet und rp senkrecht zu der Richtungslinie der Vektorkomponenten <Lp steht, und di ist der effektive Durchmesser des ersten Endes definiert als:
    Figure imgb0021
     und Ai ist der effektive Einlaßbereich definiert durch:
    Figure imgb0022
     wobei Ap der gesamte Querschnittsbereich am pth-Einlaß ist am Eingang zum Hydrozyklon in einer Parallelebene zur Hydrozyklonachse am Einlaß p und senkrecht zur Vektorkomponenten <Li; und die folgenden Kriterien sind vorhanden:
    A. 3<Vr<28, wobei
    Figure imgb0023
    B. Der Hydrozyklon gemessen entlang der Hydrozyklonachse (20) von der ersten Seite zur zweiten Seite ist mindestens 10d₂ lang.
    C. Der Hydrozyklon schließt einen Abschnitt zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Seite ein, der mindestens 8d₂ lang ist, gemessen entlang der Hydrozyklonachse, wobei:

    15'<α<2°
    Figure imgb0024

    α ist der durchschnittliche Halbwinkel der Konvergenz einer Seitenwand des Hydrozyklons; und
    D. Die ersten Auslässe (12) haben einen effektiven Mindestquerschnittsdurchmesser von do, wobei
    Figure imgb0025
  2. Methode gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei Vr größer ist als 5 und kleiner als 20, der Hydrozyklon ist mindestens 15d₂ von der ersten Seite bis zur zweiten Seite, die Länge über die der Durchschnittswinkel mindestens 15' und weniger als 2o beträgt, ist mindestens 10d₂ und do/d₂<0,1.
  3. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei die ersten Auslässe (12) neben der ersten Seite angebracht sind.
  4. Eine Erfindungsmethode gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei die ersten Auslässe in einem Abstand von mindestens 2d₂ von der ersten Seite zur zweiten Seite hin liegen.
  5. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei der Abstand mindestens 4d₂ beträgt.
  6. Eine Methode gemäß jedem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die mit mehr als einer Art von Einläß versehen ist, und wobei ein erster Einlaßtyp mit Flüssigkeit von einer Quelle niedrigeren Drucks beschickt wird als dies der Fall mit einer anderen Art des Einlasses ist.
  7. Eine Methode gemäß jedem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei neben dem zweiten Ende Mittel (14) eingesetzt werden, um zumindest einen Teil der Drehbewegung der Flüssigkeit über der Hydrozyklonachse in eine Bewegung zu konvertieren, die im wesentlichen linear ist, wahrend minimale viskoser Widerstandskräfte auf die Flüssigkeit einwirken, während die Flüssigkeit im wesentlichen eine Drehgeschwindigkeit hat.
  8. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei die Mittel zum Konvertieren mindestens eines Teils der Drehbewegung der Flüssigkeit über der Hydrozyklonachse in eine Bewegung, die im wesentlichen linear ist, in Form eines oder mehrerer tangentieller Auslässe (14) besteht und die zweiten Auslässe darstellt.
  9. Eine Methode gemäß jedem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Wert von d₂ größer als 6mm und kleiner als 100mm ist.
  10. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die ersten Auslässe (12) neben der ersten Seite liegen, und wobei der Hydrozyklon den Strom modifizierende Mittel (16) hat, die einen Teil des Wegs entlang der Hydrozyklonachse von der ersten zur zweiten Seite ein Hindernis zum Erhöhen des Drucks oder der Mengenstromrate des relativ weniger dichten Flüssigkeitsteils aus den ersten Auslässen bilden, und wobei das Verhältnis des Minimumbereichs des Hydrozyklonquerschnitts (A₁) des Teils des Hydrozyklons zwischen der ersten Seite und dem Hindernis und des effektiven Querschnittsbereichs (A₂) des Hindernisses größer ist als 2.
  11. Eine Methode entsprechend Anspruch 10, wobei das Verhältnis A₁ : A₂ größer ist als 5.
  12. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 10 und 11, wobei das Hindernis mindestens d₂/15 zur ersten Seite von einer Schlußwand an der zweiten positioniert ist, gemessen entlang der Hydrozyklonachse.
  13. Eine Methode gemäß Anspruch 12, wobei das Hindernis mindestens d₂/6 zur ersten Seite der Schlußwand positioniert ist.
  14. Eine Methode gemäß Ansprüche 10 bis 13, wobei der effektive Bereich des Hydrozyklonquerschnitts (A₃) mindestens eine Position entlang der Hydrozyklonachse vom Hindernis zur zweiten Seite nicht größer ist als der Bereich A₁.
  15. Eine Methode gemäß jeder der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das zu separierende Gemisch aus Öl und Wasser besteht.
EP87907917A 1986-11-26 1987-11-26 Hydrozyklone Revoked EP0346328B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

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AT87907917T ATE95085T1 (de) 1986-11-26 1987-11-26 Hydrozyklone.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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AU9165/86 1986-11-26
AUPH916586 1986-11-26
AUPI021787 1987-02-06
AU217/87 1987-02-06

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EP0346328A1 EP0346328A1 (de) 1989-12-20
EP0346328A4 EP0346328A4 (de) 1990-04-10
EP0346328B1 true EP0346328B1 (de) 1993-09-29

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DE (1) DE3787656T2 (de)
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AR243091A1 (es) 1993-07-30
NO883295L (no) 1988-09-12
IN168805B (de) 1991-06-08
US5045218A (en) 1991-09-03
WO1988003842A1 (en) 1988-06-02
NO883295D0 (no) 1988-07-25
DE3787656D1 (de) 1993-11-04
CA1309667C (en) 1992-11-03
GB2221408A (en) 1990-02-07
EP0346328A1 (de) 1989-12-20
GB8911992D0 (en) 1989-09-20
EP0346328A4 (de) 1990-04-10
DE3787656T2 (de) 1994-03-17
NO179932C (no) 1997-01-15
JPH02501045A (ja) 1990-04-12
OA09073A (fr) 1991-10-31
BR8707945A (pt) 1990-02-13
NO179932B (no) 1996-10-07
GB2221408B (en) 1991-07-03

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